Magnifier apparatus and method for hand held video display

ABSTRACT

A magnifier apparatus for use with a hand-held video display apparatus which magnifier apparatus has a frame with a magnifier lens, the frame secured to a support, the support releasably adapted to be secured in a snap-in relationship to the sides of the housing of the video display apparatus in an upright, correct position, the frame with the magnifier lens adapted to move between an open, use position over the screen of the video display apparatus and a closed, non-use position nested within the support.

REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATION

This application is a continution-in-part of U.S. Design patentapplication Ser. No. 07/639,713 filed Jan. 8, 1991.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Video display apparatuses particularly hand-held, portable,computer-based video display apparatuses, such as the video display gameknown Game Boy™ (a trademark of Nintendo of America, Inc.), are in wideuse. Such video display apparatuses typically comprise each a housingwhich includes and supports a video display screen, such as an LCDscreen for external viewing by the user. Each video display apparatustypically also includes various means, such as levers, buttons and knobson the housing to enable a video operator to manipulate the controlswith one hand while holding the video display apparatus in the otherhand.

One disadvantage to many of the hand-held, portable video displayapparatuses, such as the Game Boy™ video display apparatus, is the smallsize of the video display screen, which typically may range from five toten square inches and generally are flat and rectangular displayscreens. In addition, displayed on the display screen are often smallsized figures, characters, words, letters or instructions, which areoften difficult to see, and therefore affects the efficiency andpleasure of the operation of the video display apparatus. It istherefore desirable to provide for effective means to improve thevisibility of the video display, particularly in a portable, hand-heldvideo display apparatus so as to enhance the ability of the operator toobserve the indicia on the display screen and operate and play the game.

One magnifying device for use with hand-held video display apparatus isdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,935, issued Feb. 12, 1991. Suchmagnifying device includes a fixed frame which is slidably andreleasably mounted on the video display housing, and which has amagnifier-type lens adapted to overlie the video display and effectmagnification of the video display during operation. The magnifier lensis placed in a fixed position in a frame within the magnifying device.

A magnifier for a liquid crystal display TV apparatus is described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,443,819 issued Apr. 17, 1984, wherein a lens ispivotably mounted on a support which support is pivotably mounted at theother end to the TV housing and not releasably secured to the housing oradjustable for lateral movement on the housing to a fixed position.

It is desirable to provide for an efficient, easily mountable anddismountable, portable, simple magnifier apparatus, particularly for usewith portable, hand-held video display apparatus to enhance thevisibility of the display screen.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a magnifier apparatus for use with a hand-heldvideo display apparatus and to a system and method of using suchmagnifier apparatus. In particular, the invention concerns a magnifierapparatus for use with a hand-held, portable video display apparatus,such as a Game Boy™ apparatus, which magnifier apparatus is portable andeasily manufactured and adapted for movement between an open, useposition to enhance the image of the video display on the video displayapparatus, and a closed, non-use, portable, compact position, and whichis releasably, adjustably fixed in position on the video displayapparatus.

The invention comprises a magnifier apparatus for use with a hand-heldvideo display apparatus, and which apparatus has a housing with sides,external controls for operation of the apparatus and a generallyrectangular video screen within the housing and supported by the housingand which screen is visually observable externally of the housing by theoperator. The magnifier apparatus for use with the hand-held videodisplay apparatus comprises a frame and a magnifier lens supported bythe frame and generally positioned within the frame, the magnifying lensbeing generally flat and of sufficient magnifying capacity to enhancethe visibility of the images on the video display screen.

The magnifier includes a support for the frame, the support having a oneand the other end and generally spaced apart, extending legs at the oneend so that the support may be mounted in a releasable, e.g. snap-fit,manner over the housing over and onto the respective sides of thehousing of the video display apparatus. The extending legs of thesupport are generally thin and flat and of sufficient width and containon the interior surface a raised ridge or other means so as to providefor a snap-in of the ridge into a peripheral groove on each of theexternal side surfaces of the housing of the video display apparatus topermit slidable lateral movement to adjust the position of the supportin relation to the housing. Typically, the support is so disposed so asto be generally perpendicular to the plane of the housing apparatus, orso positioned so as to provide for the plane of the frame with themagnifier to be generally perpendicular to the plane of the videodisplay screen in use.

The frame is hingedly connected at the other end of the support topermit the frame, together with the magnifier lens, to move between anopen magnifying, use position directly above and generally aligned overthe area of the video display screen so as to permit the operator toeasily observe the enhanced image of the video display screen with theplane of the magnifier lens generally parallel to the plane of theunderlying video display screen, and a closed, non-use positiongenerally parallel to the plane of the support, which represents acompact, portable, carrying position for the magnifier apparatus.Generally, the frame and magnifier apparatus are hingedly connected atthe other end of the support a sufficient distance depending upon themagnification focal length of the magnifier lens to provide for anenhanced image, such as for example in use of about three to five inchesfrom the plane of the video display screen.

The magnifying apparatus also includes means to retain the frame and themagnifier lens in the use position, such as the employment of a raisedindent means on the interior surface of the frame, which as the frame ismoved generally to the plane parallel to the plane of the video displayscreen provides for a snap-in of the indent against the adjacentinterior surface of the upper edge of the support to hold and retain theframe and magnifier lens in a use position, and yet permit the frame andthe magnifier lens to be returned to a compact, non-use position byslight pressure by the user to overcome the indent against the interiorsurface of the support means thus providing for the snap-in positionbetween the use and the non-use position of the magnifying apparatus.

Also, importantly, the magnifying apparatus is characterized by asupport means characterized by a generally open area centrallypositioned thereon, so that while the magnifying apparatus is in the useposition, the operator may view the video screen at an angle through theopen area of the support with typically the open area being centrallypositioned and rectangular with generally the frame is slightly largerin rectangular dimensions than that of the video display screen.

The support comprises at the other end a means or device by which theother end of the support means may be releasably secured to the housingof the video display apparatus, so as to position the support meansvertically and upwardly from the planar surface of the housing and topermit the frame and magnifier lens to overlie the video display screen.Typically, the magnifier apparatus is composed of a molded plastic, suchas injection molded styrene polymer, except for the magnifying lens,which may be glass or plastic. In one embodiment, the interior surfaceof each spaced leg of the support includes a raised, e.g. horizontal,ridge generally parallel to a side groove which runs peripherally aroundthe housing of the video display apparatus with the raised ridge adaptedto snap-fit into a side peripheral groove of the Game Boy™ so as toretain the support in a releasable manner in position and to provide forslidable, horizontal movement in the groove to position the support onthe housing in a correct position, and yet provide for easy removal ofthe magnifier apparatus from the video display apparatus. In addition,optionally the interior surface of each leg of the support would includea raised, e.g. vertical, insert which is adapted to snap-fit into one ofa generally matching, vertical, parallel grooves of a Game Boy™ videodisplay apparatus, a plurality of which grooves are parallel arranged oneither side of the housing of the display and generally below the videodisplay, so that the magnifier apparatus is snap-fit onto the housing ofthe video display both by a peripheral ridge fitting into a peripheralgroove and an insert fitting into a groove which is perpendicular to theperipheral groove which locks the frame into a non-sliding, correctposition on the housing.

The invention also relates to the combination of a hand-held videodisplay apparatus containing a housing and a video display screen, suchas an LCD screen, and more particularly, a Game Boy™ apparatus, incombination with the magnifier apparatus of the invention. The simple,slim construction of the magnifier apparatus contrasts to the bulky,slide-on, releasable-type magnifying apparatus found in U.S. Pat. No.4,991,135 which permits for a simple, inexpensive magnifying apparatus,and yet permits further accessories to be employed with the hand-heldvideo display apparatus, such as for example the employment of lights toenhance the display of the video screen of the video display apparatus,as well as the employment of an amplifier to amplify the sound from thevideo display apparatus.

The invention also includes a method of magnifying an image on the videodisplay screen supported within a housing of a hand-held video gamecomputer apparatus and which method comprises placing a support in areleasable, generally vertical, upright mounting position on the housingof the video display apparatus and typically through extended, spacedapart legs at the one end of the support, by placing the legs on eitherside of the housing of the video display apparatus and typically whichsnap-fit in a relationship with the sides of the housing of the videodisplay apparatus; and mounting a frame with a magnifying lens on thesupport, the frame mounted for hinged movement between an open,magnifying, in-use position above and generally parallel to the plane ofthe spaced apart, underlying video display screen and generallyperpendicular from the support, and a closed, non-use position whereinthe frame is generally in a compact, parallel position to the plane ofthe support and typically fits within the confines of the thin sides ofthe support in a portable, compact manner.

The method includes providing ridges and indents on the interior surfaceof the extended legs of the support which may be engaged in a snap-inmating relationship with the peripheral parting line and/or thegenerally parallel grooves of the hand-held video game apparatus, suchas a Game Boy™ apparatus. It also includes providing a means so that theframe and magnifying lens are retained in an open, use position and maybe easily returned to a non-use position by slight pressure of the handof the operator to overcome a mechanical detent, and providing a supportframe with a central, open area so that the operator may also view thevideo display screen of the hand-held video display apparatus throughthe open area of the support indirectly as well as through themagnifying lens.

The invention provides for a simple, inexpensive, effective, compact andportable magnifying apparatus and method for use with a hand-held videodisplay apparatus.

The invention will be described for the purposes of illustration only inconnection with certain embodiments; however, it is recognized thatvarious modifications, changes, additions and improvements may be madeby those persons skilled in the art, all falling within the spirit andscope of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the magnifying lens apparatus of theinvention in the open, use position overlying a video screen apparatusshown in dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the magnifying lens apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the magnifying lens apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a back elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus inthe closed, non-use position.

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the magnifying lens apparatus of FIG. 7.

FIG. 10 is a back elevational view of the magnifying lens apparatus ofFIG. 7.

FIG. 11 is a bottom plan view of the magnifying lens apparatus of FIG.7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a system 10 which comprises a combination of a magnifyingapparatus of the invention together with a video display apparatus 12,the display shown being a portable, hand-held Game Boy™ video displayapparatus having a housing 14 and having a flat LCD video screen 16 forvideo display of images and with a peripheral, horizontal, inward groove18 parting line centrally positioned around the housing 14 and with aplurality of parallel design, vertical grooves 20 disposed on eitherside of the housing 14, with parting line 18 and parallel grooves 20peculiar to the Game Boy™ video display apparatus. The magnifying lensincludes a frame 22, a flat glass magnifying lens 24 and a support 26,the support having a wide generally rectangular, open area 28 andincludes two downwardly extending legs 30 and 32 at the one end of thesupport 26. The frame 22 with the magnifying lens 24 is engaged with thesupport for hinged movement through the use of a outwardly extendinghinge pin 34 on either side of the frame and into a recess in the topsection of the frame of the support 26 so that the frame 22 and the lens24 may move between an open, user position, as illustrated in FIG. 1,and closed, compact, non-use position as illustrated in FIGS. 7-11.

As illustrated, in the open, use, the frame 22 and the lens 24 arepositioned generally parallel to the underlying, spaced apart videoscreen 16 of the video display apparatus 12 with the focal length of themagnifying lens selected to provide for amplification for the videoscreen, so that the operator may externally view the video screen 16through the magnifying lens 24 and receive a magnified image thereof. Asillustrated, the support 26 is generally perpendicular to the plane ofthe viewer screen 16 and the top plane of the housing 14, with the frame22 extending generally perpendicularly outwardly from and over the videoscreen 16. In the closed position, the frame 22 with the lens 24 easilyfolds downward and is generally parallel to the support 26 and in factnests within the extending support sides thereof to form in a non-useposition a portable, easily carried, compact magnifying apparatus.

With particular reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 10, there is shown centrallydisposed on the interior surface of the frame 22 a raised detent 36which at one end extends slightly below the upper edge of the frame 22which has a slightly rounded outer surface. In operation, the user movesthe frame 22 upwardly into the user position and the outer rounded edgeof the detent moves across the upper edge of the support 26 and thedetent snaps into position and stands against the interior surface ofthe upper edge of the support 26 to retain the frame 22 in a userposition. The frame 22 is returned to the compact position by slightdownward pressure of the user on top of the frame 22 so that the detentmoves off its snap-in position on the edge as illustrated and hingedlyinto a compact position as illustrated more particularly in FIG. 10.

The interior surfaces of the extending legs 30 and 32 of the support 26contain on either side slightly raised ridges 38 and 42 which areadapted to snap-in to the peripheral parting groove 18 of the videodisplay apparatus 12. The support 26 may be slid in the groove intoposition so that the frame 22 is above the screen 16. In addition, theinterior surfaces of the each of the legs 30 and 32 contain raisedinserts 40 and 44 of sufficient size so that it may be snapped into oneof the generally parallel grooves 20 of the video display apparatus 12,so as to retain the support in the correct position both by the ridges38 and 42 and the inserts 40 and 44 in a snap-in supporting relationshipto the video game apparatus 12 to retain the support 26 in a generallyupright, perpendicular position from the plane of the housing 14 of thevideo game apparatus 12. The support is easily releasable by outwardhand pressure from the operator to unsnap the ridges 38 and 42 andinserts 40 and 44 from their mating relationship so that the frame 22may be integrally folded into the compact storage, non-use position.

The magnifying apparatus and method as described and illustrated in thedrawings provides for a simple, compact magnifying lens for use with avideo game apparatus having a video display screen and which may bereadily moved between and use and a non-use, compact position.

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnifier apparatus for use with a hand-heldvideo display apparatus which video display apparatus has a housing withsides and a video display screen within the housing, the display screenvisually observable externally of the housing and which magnifierapparatus comprises:a) frame means; b) a magnifying lens supported bythe frame means; c) support means for the frame means, the support meanshaving a one and the other end with spaced apart, extending legs at theone end, the support means adapted to be mounted in a releasable mannerin an upright position over the housing and with the legs on theirrespective sides of the video display apparatus; d) means at the otherend of the support means to permit the frame means with the magnifyinglens to move between an open, magnifying use position, spaced apart andabove and generally parallel to the plane of the video display apparatusand a closed, non-use position generally parallel to the plane of thesupport means; and e) means to slidably position and fix in a releasablemanner the support means on the housing.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1which includes means to provide for the snap-in retention of the framemeans and the magnifying lens in the open, use position.
 3. Theapparatus of claim 2 which includes an indent on the interior surface ofthe frame means and adapted to snap fit in a retaining position againstan internal surface of an upper edge of the support means to retain theframe means and magnifying lens in the open, use position.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein the support means is characterized by acentral open area therein so that the video display screen may be viewedthrough said central open area.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 whichincludes raised ridge means on the interior surface of each of theextended legs of the support means and which raised ridge means areadapted to snap fit into a peripheral groove on the external sides ofthe housing of the video display apparatus to retain the support meansin a generally upright position.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein theraised ridge means in the snap fit relationship with the peripheralgroove permit the lateral movement of the support means and the frameand magnifying lens to position the magnifying lens directly above thevideo display screen.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 which includes araised insert means on the interior surface of each of the extendedlegs, the raised insert means adapted to snap fit into one or moreparallel grooves on the side of the housing of the video displayapparatus to position and retain the support means and the frame meansand magnifying lens in a desired position above the video displayscreen.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support means includesextending sides wherein in the closed position the frame means and themagnifying lens are nested within the extended sides of the supportmeans in a compact, non-use, close relationship.
 9. A hand-held videodisplay apparatus having a housing with a video display screen thereinin combination with the magnifier apparatus of claim
 1. 10. Thehand-held video display apparatus of claim 9 wherein the housingincludes sides with a peripheral, generally central, horizontal grooveand a plurality of generally parallel, vertical grooves.
 11. A method ofmagnifying an image on a video display screen of a hand-held computerapparatus having a housing which supports the video screen, and whichmethod comprises:a) placing spaced apart, extending side legs of asupport in a releasable, generally upright mounting position on eitherside of the housing; b) mounting a frame with a magnifying lens forhinged movement on the support for movement between an open, useposition wherein the magnifying lens extends in a spaced apartrelationship directly above the video display screen of the computerapparatus and generally parallel thereto to permit the external viewingand magnification of the images on the display screen, and a closed,compact position wherein the frame and magnifying lens are generallyparallel to the support; and c) laterally adjusting the extended legs ofthe support on either side of the housing of the computer apparatus toposition and support the support and frame so that the magnifying lensis positioned directly over the video display screen of the computerapparatus.
 12. The method of claim 11 which includes locking in theposition the support on the housing when the frame is positioneddirectly over the video display screen.
 13. The method of claim 11 whichincludes hingedly folding the frame and the magnifying lens into aclosed, non-use, compact position within the sides of the support forcarrying by the user.